For their junior and senior years of high school, Shai and Nickeil moved to Chattanooga to play for the Ferrell-coached team at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy. Shai and Nickeil lived in Ferrell’s home.

UK basketball player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander talks about how he chose Kentucky over other college basketball teams, and about his hobby in drawing.

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Ferrell recalled his son, Peyton, taking his first steps with Shai and Nickeil watching.

“One of the first words he said was Shai,” Ferrell said of Peyton.

When asked if Peyton said Shai before momma and da-da, Ferrell laughed and said, “No. He did not say Shai before momma and da-da. But it was probably No. 3.”

Recruiting and college basketball separated Shai and Nickeil.

Shai committed to Florida as a high school junior. Then as he improved, he reconsidered and ultimately signed with Kentucky.

Nickeil committed to Virginia Tech in the spring of his junior year. Though Southern Cal and Maryland subsequently offered scholarships, he did not change his mind.

Nickeil (pronounced Nick-keel) dismissed the notion that he might have envied Shai joining a higher-profile team like Kentucky.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (4) is Virginia Tech’s third-leading scorer this season at 14.4 points per game.

Matt Gentry AP

“I was more excited for him because that’s a big-time place to go that put him in the right position to do what we dreamed about since we were kids,” Nickeil said. “I knew with my decision, I’d do the same thing. . . . I was nothing but happy (for Shai), nothing but cheerful. Never once thought about why wasn’t I being recruited (by Kentucky) because I knew things are going to happen for a reason. And time would tell.”

Ferrell said the cousins/brothers/Irish twins played one-on-one “hundreds of times.” Each won and lost his share.

Nickeil recalled the competition getting heated. “I hate losing to him,” he said. “He hates losing to me. It’s a competitive spirit that we have. That made us better. It also helped us . . . work on our weaknesses.”

The one-on-one rivalry disappeared when the two were teammates.

“When he had, like, 30 points every game, I was his biggest fan,” Nickeil said. “I was one of his biggest supporters. Still will be to this day.

“Just seeing him do well makes me happy because his family and I want nothing but the best for him.”

Shai and Nickeil are off to good starts as college players. Shai has made more than half his shots (32 of 63), averages 10.1 points and leads Kentucky with 21 steals. Nickeil averages 14.4 points and has made nearly half his three-point shots (21 of 44).

Ferrell, who will not be able to attend Saturday’s game, expects Shai and Nickeil to be matched up, especially when Quade Green is UK’s point guard.

“It’s weird,” Nickeil said of a possible matchup against Shai. “It’s a little weird. Really close to him. He’s like my brother. I feel like I’m playing myself.”

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